Truce
The source added that Egypt is exerting tremendous efforts to reach a fair truce agreement ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar during which Muslims worldwide fast from dawn to sunset.
Egypt received on Tuesday a response from Hamas to the proposed ‘ceasefire and prisoners swap’ deal, and announced the continuation of its efforts to reach a truce agreement in Gaza as soon as possible.
“Egypt permanently opens the Rafah border crossing for individuals and goods, and any obstacles at the crossing come from the Israeli side,” Diaa Rashwan affirmed.
The ceasefire began on Friday and was due to last for four days. Yet, it was extended for two additional days.
“The Creation of a Palestinian state is the only viable manner in which to end the conflict, a state on the borders of 1967 with Jerusalem as its capital living in peace and security side by side with the state of Israel. The Arab Initiative of 2002 was clear in strategic initiative with the Arab states to create peace and create normalization on the basis of the craton of the state of Palestine. We still are strongly advocating this and working for it,” he added.
Rashwan said that the exchange of detainees and prisoners will be carried out in the coming hours, including 11 Israeli detainees in the Gaza Strip, in exchange for the release of 33 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
Diaa Rashwan, the head of the State Information Service, announced previously that the Egyptian-Qatari brokered truce between Hamas and Israel is likely to be extended for additional two days.
The extended truce includes a daily release of 10 detainees in Gaza, women and children, in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, making the total of those released in the two days of the extended truce, 20 Israelis versus 60 Palestinians.
They discussed the updates of Gaza crisis and status of the current temporary ceasefire.
Chairman of the State Information Service Diaa Rashwan stated Saturday that the four-day truce, which started on Friday, may be extended for additional seven days.
More captives are expected to be released Saturday as Gaza humanitarian truce enters its second day.
Egypt has been intensifying contacts with Israel and Hamas on Friday to consolidate the truce agreement.
“Egypt was keen to fulfill its responsibility towards the Palestinian brothers,” said the President, adding “We seek to deliver the largest amounts of humanitarian aid to relieve the suffering of more than 2 million Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. He affirmed that most of the humanitarian aid to the Palestinians is provided by Egypt.
Thirteen Palestinian prisoners (women and minors under the age of 19) will be released on the first day of the 4-day truce at 4:00 p.m., while Hamas will release 13 Israeli female and minor captives.
He added that Egypt, Qatar, and the United States are conducting talks and communications to quickly begin the 4-day truce between Hamas and Israel, noting that time to make the truce come into force will be determined within the coming hours.
During Egyptian-Qatari mediation negotiates, Israel has agreed to a one-day truce on the condition that it should be under international supervision, sources said, Friday.
A truce officially came into effect late on Saturday night, with an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire agreement meant to end the worst episode of cross-border fire since a 10-day war in 2021.
“The extension includes a commitment by the Government and Houthi rebels to intensify negotiations to reach an expanded agreement as soon as possible,” the UN said on August 2.
Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Friday said the recent de-escalation declaration in Gaza does not mean not holding Israel accountable for the crimes committed recently.
In a conclusion statement, they said that the ongoing situation in Libya threatens the international stability and security, calling upon the conflicting parties in Libya to make a truce.
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